Name: William McQuillen
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Occupation: Translator
Appearance: 186cm, average looks
Location: Sentosa Island
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Used to be friendly > when my parents were killed > Unsociable, Unemotional / Can't sleep well
Family: Single, Family died during WWII / then marries to a Chinese woman in 1940.
Education: Oxford University
Languages you speak: English, Mandarin, Japanese
Your main concerns at this time and in life: The Future life, new start.
Portrait (an image that you and we can live with):
November 4, 1937
It's been a while to write a diary; I was indeed hastily involved in Singapore’s affairs. I have been working in Sentosa Island since January, a small island that is located southern regions of Singaporean geography, because Britain wanted me for English translator who can also speak Mandarin, which is a common language what Singaporeans speak. I was actually afraid of traveling to Singapore, because I heard that China and Japan are in a battle recently and someone told me that Singapore is also dangerous place even though it is under the British control. Thus, while all English citizens were congratulating and enjoying the ‘new king of Britain‘ George VI, I had to leave my nation than a such ceremony. I could refuse the government’s request, But I wanted to gain new experience for my golden future.
I felt Life in Singapore had been significantly difficult to adapt than I was in England that many people here looked at me strangely whenever I greeted them in Mandarin. Of course, I would also felt strange if I was a Singaporean; a white guy talking Chinese to me. But now many people in Singapore are a friends of mine; moreover, some Singaporeans can speak English, and thus I do not feel like a stranger now.
Many events have passed. There was a tension between Japan and America due to Panay Sunk, when U.S. gunboat was sunk by Japanese soldiers in Yangtze River, and thus resulted a number of death of American soldiers. Because I could speak Japanese as well, I attended the negotiation meeting as a translator. I think this was only major event that I have experienced so far in 1937. Anyway, I met a 18 years old Canadian boy, called Billy Wilson, and it was fascinating that I encountered him as if I found a treasure in a box where I can only see abundant numbers of stones. Indeed, there were many British in Singapore, but I have not shared my emotion with any of them like I have done with Billy. When we first met each other, he was captivated when he found out that I was a officer and that I could speak languages other than English, and I was also quite interested with him, and we have been discussing a lot of ideas. The political affairs were our favorite topics, such as ‘the influence that Sino-Japanese war will impact the world’. In overall, now I think this place is not bad then I firstly thought of, but I am not sure how long it would take me to stay in this island.
February 1, 1941
I have been experiencing a nightmare since a year ago. I lost my goal. I merely can not perceive what will become my future.
Anguish.
I just do not want to think about the history of past four years; critically, my parents passed away. When Germany bombed London in 1940; my father, Josher McQuillen and my mother, Christina Hamilton were both killed by German planes. When I first heard this news, I laughed hysterically that it was just unbelievable; everything went suddenly!
Indeed, I already sensed danger since the flow of peace in the world broke by Adolf Hitler in 1939, when Germany invaded Poland; when the World War II began. Year 1940 was a perplexing year other than the death of my parents; firstly, Winston Churchill becomes Britain’s Prime Minister, then Hitler invaded Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, and furthermore, began attacking even the British Empire. WWII stopped me going back to Britain for the safety; however, I and other British officers in Singapore have to return to Britain soon as a bigger problem appeared. Japanese planned surprise attack on U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, which has brought U.S. army into World War II, and because the British government declared a war against Japan, we need to leave Singapore as it will eventually become Japanese territory. It is a shame that we do not have power to stop Japanese invasion.
Everyone’s moods are covered with tension; especially I, and now almost nobody tries to talk to me because I have been acting unsociably and unemotionally since my parents’ deaths. Anyway, I met a women called Melissa Huxley during a return, she is a shopkeeper of a clothes store, but because of every British in Singapore needs to go back to England in order to prevent a massacre, she needed to close her shop. Talking about Japanese's irrational moves; I packed myself to leave Singapore.
February 9, 1949
People were dying in front of my eyes. They were either bombed or slain by guns. Yesterday, on 9th December 1941 Japanese suddenly attacked Singapore: RAF Tengah, RAF Tengah, Sembawang Naval Base and Keppel Harbour. Although I and the British Officers expected Japanese attacks, we never thought that they would attack Singapore this quickly.
I could fly off to British land few months ago; however, I had some postponed works in Singapore, including the business of Melissa Huxley. But, now its too late to take the planes or boats due to Japanese armies; still, there are some people who are risking their lives to return to Britain. Well, I have lost my belongings in England, so I can not really ensure where I have to go now.
Yesterday was the luckiest day ever in my life. Because I had a business around Sembawang Naval Base today, I headed to the base yesterday afternoon, but what I saw was the dead bodies with whirling fires on every single building. Then, I was suddenly attacked by one of the Japanese airplane. The house that was carrying my carriage who shot, and my housewife Ms. Han whom I married last year was captured by the Japanese soldier while I was escaping from the street. I knew that my wife will be the targets due to her last name ‘Han’, but she was my only chance to escape, and so... I have indeed changed since my parents died, and considering that I only married to Xiaoli Han in order to release my anguish; thus, I do not feel much sorrow like I did when my parents died. Xiaoli may have died while I am writing this because I heard that Japanese does not spare Chinese even though it is a woman. Now I have to choose where I should flee; firstly, I need to escape from this unpredictable country.
August 3, 1942
On 15th February 1942, Singapore surrendered to the Japanese and was renamed as Syonanto, which means light of the south. Unfortunately, the plan was failed despite Lim Bo Seng’s effort; the Singaporean hero. As a head leader of Labour Services of the Overseas Chinese Mobilization Council, he ordered Tan Kah Kee to organize over 10,000 men for the British government to construct defenses around the island, plus as a manpower for essential service. As Japanese troops descended upon Singapore, Lim Bo Seng’s men helped to dynamite the causeway where the Japanese troops will pass across. Now Lim has escaped to India before Singapore fell to the Japanese, and I wish for his survival.
I am going to be used by the Japanese tomorrow, and I guess this will be last diary. I was captured by the Japanese while escaping Singapore, and thus my plan of fleeing to Australia fell flat. I am currently in Manchuria where the Japanese proceeds the human experiment, and I met Billy Wilson who I lost the connection since 1937, he will also receive experiment tomorrow, and he is crying a lot right now. He curses Chinese every time he has a chance to talk to them (well of course in English), and it is my job to settle him down, and explain that death is nothing to worry about. It may sound funny, and Billy indeed regards me as a mad man now. I just can not understand; unlike him, I am not crying at all, maybe this is a great chance to die as a lot of miserable events are wandering within my brain, and I just want to escape from these. I asked one of the officer in the camp ‘Kurono Kei’ to tell the scientist to anesthetize me before he will test me, and I am glad that he approved, and that I will leave this world without such pain. I talked to Kurono Kei quite a lot in Chinese; although he leads the human experiment, I think his inner soul is not corrupted yet. Anyway, I will be dead by tomorrow morning, so I will finally say farewell to the world and any possible readers who would read this diary of mine. Sources:
A British Officer stationed in Singapore
Name: William McQuillen
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Occupation: Translator
Appearance: 186cm, average looks
Location: Sentosa Island
Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: Used to be friendly > when my parents were killed > Unsociable, Unemotional / Can't sleep well
Family: Single, Family died during WWII / then marries to a Chinese woman in 1940.
Education: Oxford University
Languages you speak: English, Mandarin, Japanese
Your main concerns at this time and in life: The Future life, new start.
Portrait (an image that you and we can live with):
November 4, 1937
It's been a while to write a diary; I was indeed hastily involved in Singapore’s affairs. I have been working in Sentosa Island since January, a small island that is located southern regions of Singaporean geography, because Britain wanted me for English translator who can also speak Mandarin, which is a common language what Singaporeans speak. I was actually afraid of traveling to Singapore, because I heard that China and Japan are in a battle recently and someone told me that Singapore is also dangerous place even though it is under the British control. Thus, while all English citizens were congratulating and enjoying the ‘new king of Britain‘ George VI, I had to leave my nation than a such ceremony. I could refuse the government’s request, But I wanted to gain new experience for my golden future.
I felt Life in Singapore had been significantly difficult to adapt than I was in England that many people here looked at me strangely whenever I greeted them in Mandarin. Of course, I would also felt strange if I was a Singaporean; a white guy talking Chinese to me. But now many people in Singapore are a friends of mine; moreover, some Singaporeans can speak English, and thus I do not feel like a stranger now.
Many events have passed. There was a tension between Japan and America due to Panay Sunk, when U.S. gunboat was sunk by Japanese soldiers in Yangtze River, and thus resulted a number of death of American soldiers. Because I could speak Japanese as well, I attended the negotiation meeting as a translator. I think this was only major event that I have experienced so far in 1937. Anyway, I met a 18 years old Canadian boy, called Billy Wilson, and it was fascinating that I encountered him as if I found a treasure in a box where I can only see abundant numbers of stones. Indeed, there were many British in Singapore, but I have not shared my emotion with any of them like I have done with Billy. When we first met each other, he was captivated when he found out that I was a officer and that I could speak languages other than English, and I was also quite interested with him, and we have been discussing a lot of ideas. The political affairs were our favorite topics, such as ‘the influence that Sino-Japanese war will impact the world’. In overall, now I think this place is not bad then I firstly thought of, but I am not sure how long it would take me to stay in this island.
February 1, 1941
I have been experiencing a nightmare since a year ago. I lost my goal. I merely can not perceive what will become my future.
Anguish.
I just do not want to think about the history of past four years; critically, my parents passed away. When Germany bombed London in 1940; my father, Josher McQuillen and my mother, Christina Hamilton were both killed by German planes. When I first heard this news, I laughed hysterically that it was just unbelievable; everything went suddenly!
Indeed, I already sensed danger since the flow of peace in the world broke by Adolf Hitler in 1939, when Germany invaded Poland; when the World War II began. Year 1940 was a perplexing year other than the death of my parents; firstly, Winston Churchill becomes Britain’s Prime Minister, then Hitler invaded Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg, and furthermore, began attacking even the British Empire. WWII stopped me going back to Britain for the safety; however, I and other British officers in Singapore have to return to Britain soon as a bigger problem appeared. Japanese planned surprise attack on U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, which has brought U.S. army into World War II, and because the British government declared a war against Japan, we need to leave Singapore as it will eventually become Japanese territory. It is a shame that we do not have power to stop Japanese invasion.
Everyone’s moods are covered with tension; especially I, and now almost nobody tries to talk to me because I have been acting unsociably and unemotionally since my parents’ deaths. Anyway, I met a women called Melissa Huxley during a return, she is a shopkeeper of a clothes store, but because of every British in Singapore needs to go back to England in order to prevent a massacre, she needed to close her shop. Talking about Japanese's irrational moves; I packed myself to leave Singapore.
February 9, 1949
People were dying in front of my eyes. They were either bombed or slain by guns. Yesterday, on 9th December 1941 Japanese suddenly attacked Singapore: RAF Tengah, RAF Tengah, Sembawang Naval Base and Keppel Harbour. Although I and the British Officers expected Japanese attacks, we never thought that they would attack Singapore this quickly.
I could fly off to British land few months ago; however, I had some postponed works in Singapore, including the business of Melissa Huxley. But, now its too late to take the planes or boats due to Japanese armies; still, there are some people who are risking their lives to return to Britain. Well, I have lost my belongings in England, so I can not really ensure where I have to go now.
Yesterday was the luckiest day ever in my life. Because I had a business around Sembawang Naval Base today, I headed to the base yesterday afternoon, but what I saw was the dead bodies with whirling fires on every single building. Then, I was suddenly attacked by one of the Japanese airplane. The house that was carrying my carriage who shot, and my housewife Ms. Han whom I married last year was captured by the Japanese soldier while I was escaping from the street. I knew that my wife will be the targets due to her last name ‘Han’, but she was my only chance to escape, and so... I have indeed changed since my parents died, and considering that I only married to Xiaoli Han in order to release my anguish; thus, I do not feel much sorrow like I did when my parents died. Xiaoli may have died while I am writing this because I heard that Japanese does not spare Chinese even though it is a woman. Now I have to choose where I should flee; firstly, I need to escape from this unpredictable country.
August 3, 1942
On 15th February 1942, Singapore surrendered to the Japanese and was renamed as Syonanto, which means light of the south. Unfortunately, the plan was failed despite Lim Bo Seng’s effort; the Singaporean hero. As a head leader of Labour Services of the Overseas Chinese Mobilization Council, he ordered Tan Kah Kee to organize over 10,000 men for the British government to construct defenses around the island, plus as a manpower for essential service. As Japanese troops descended upon Singapore, Lim Bo Seng’s men helped to dynamite the causeway where the Japanese troops will pass across. Now Lim has escaped to India before Singapore fell to the Japanese, and I wish for his survival.
I am going to be used by the Japanese tomorrow, and I guess this will be last diary. I was captured by the Japanese while escaping Singapore, and thus my plan of fleeing to Australia fell flat. I am currently in Manchuria where the Japanese proceeds the human experiment, and I met Billy Wilson who I lost the connection since 1937, he will also receive experiment tomorrow, and he is crying a lot right now. He curses Chinese every time he has a chance to talk to them (well of course in English), and it is my job to settle him down, and explain that death is nothing to worry about. It may sound funny, and Billy indeed regards me as a mad man now. I just can not understand; unlike him, I am not crying at all, maybe this is a great chance to die as a lot of miserable events are wandering within my brain, and I just want to escape from these. I asked one of the officer in the camp ‘Kurono Kei’ to tell the scientist to anesthetize me before he will test me, and I am glad that he approved, and that I will leave this world without such pain. I talked to Kurono Kei quite a lot in Chinese; although he leads the human experiment, I think his inner soul is not corrupted yet. Anyway, I will be dead by tomorrow morning, so I will finally say farewell to the world and any possible readers who would read this diary of mine.
Sources:
http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_802_2004-12-28.html
http://app.www.sg/who/4/Our-History.aspx
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107963.html